Private vs. Public Healthcare vs skateboarding...

[revzack]

Yeah but don't forget the individuals who are born into situations in which they have no chance to afford health care. There's not equal oppurtuinity in this capitlalistic society, which makes a white-male hierarchy with power and money. Higher taxes are the most efficient ways to take money and redistribute to balance greed. Competition can still drive the system but in a way that does not exclude, the first step is not to create better medicines or better drugs, but to give people who need medicine that we have now and can't afford it. They have no choice in the matter, and its easy to ignore them in the name of competition and progress.

Timmy, your 16. Get a real job, pay some real taxes, then talk to me. Think, as it stands most people go to work from January to March, and that part of the year pays taxes. Some go from Jan to May to pay taxes, that bites no matter how you look at it. It would be longer if we had "FREE" healthcare in this country. This is a free country, everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed if you want to. Who said anything about redistributing the weath. They will give you medicine if you cant afford it, even if you dont deserve it. Go to a hospital, look in the er, plenty of people getting healthcare without paying for it which makes those of us who do pay for our healthcare, end up with higher premiums. OK, here it is, we all must eat right? Right? If we dont have food we die, simple as that, yet no one is saying the government should pay for that. Both are necessities that each family needs to pay for.

Zack

[timmysweatpants]

This is a free country, everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed if you want to.

Zack

That's not true. Success in this country is only based off of what family you're born into. That's the point. The public school system isn't equal, and only kids who can manage to get scholarships can get into college if they can't afford it. You have to already have money in this country if you want your kids to have a good chance of being filth rich. Just because I don't pay taxes doesn't mean I don't have a right to an opinion. When you're poor in this country you're forced to become beneficiaries. If you're a beneficiary, you aren't a citizen, you're just mooching off the government in exchange for being shoved into a lower-class. The only other option the government provides is that you join the military, and go and die in another country for some old men in Washington.

Total capitalism cannot thrive without an exploited lower class

[revzack]

That's not true. Success in this country is only based off of what family you're born into. That's the point. The public school system isn't equal, and only kids who can manage to get scholarships can get into college if they can't afford it. You have to already have money in this country if you want your kids to have a good chance of being filth rich. Just because I don't pay taxes doesn't mean I don't have a right to an opinion. When you're poor in this country you're forced to become beneficiaries. If you're a beneficiary, you aren't a citizen, you're just mooching off the government in exchange for being shoved into a lower-class. The only other option the government provides is that you join the military, and go and die in another country for some old men in Washington.

Total capitalism cannot thrive without an exploited lower class

Timmy,

Yes you are entitled to your opinion, however it is Wrong. If you feel this way you will never succeed. Thousands of people in this country have started from nothing and become very weathy. (My friends dad came from a trailer park in Arkansas with 12 brothers and sisters, and ended up owning 20 Burger Kings. Also see Dave Thomas of Wendy's fame.) Are you up to the challenge? If you feel like your a beneficiary of the Govt, do something about it. Obviously, if you are relating this to yourself, then your priorities are already messed up. Paying for internet, a computer, or even a skateboard before you take care of your self is obviously the wrong way to spend your money, but who am i to tell you how to spend your money. Schools may not be all equal, however, what is in the textbooks hasnt changed. It is what you do with it, that makes the difference. Do you go home and study, or go home and screw off? Do you try to make excellent grades or just slide by? There are plenty of ways to get to college, grants, scholarships etc. Do you look for them or just simply say hey, im broke i cant go to college, screw it, feel sorry for me. The military is still a good option, they pay for college, give you med insurance, and it is more dangerous to be in DC, just about than Iraq. The military has alot of benefits, the down side is when they say jump, you say how high. Just join the navy, for the most part they dont have ground troops.

If you do not think you will get ahead in life you will FAIL. You have to have a positive outlook and want to get ahead, saying that you have to be born into wealth in this country is plain Wrong.

If you wanna read some interesting things, check out:
The Millionaire Next Door
Anything by Star Parker

Zack

[pirateswin]

I think ultimately success is based on your own effort, no matter where you started from. But I will agree that it is easier to be successful when starting from a well-off family.

[phidauex]

A point I think its important not to miss is that while it may be possible for anyone to succeed, it isn't possible for EVERYONE to succeed in our current system. One person succeeding necessitates someone else NOT succeeding. Our economy is optimized to funnel wealth into ever-decreasing channels moving upwards, and 'trickle down' economics have come up empty.

I have to go back to my original point, that no matter how 'successful' you are, you should get health care. The American Dream shouldn't be about getting medicine for your children, it should be about the 'finer things' in life. You work hard, you struggle to stay on top, and you can afford a nicer car, and more vacation, and a DVD player, stuff like that.

But in order to struggle to the top, you have to push someone else down. Now, if that person can't afford a DVD player now, I don't feel bad for them. But if that person can't afford to pay for their kid's doctor visits, then I think that our economic system and our country has done them a great disservice.

The volunteer army is an option for some, but not for others. People who are too old, or have children, need not apply. Likewise, the question must be asked, how well will you be taken care of when you get out? Money for veterans affairs gets tighter every year... No guarantees these days.

peace,
sam

[phidauex]

As to the social class thing... Class warfare is rampant in this country. Things like putting the worst teachers in the inner city schools (where, arguably, the best teachers are needed to overcome the difficulties of a low-education family), and funding the schools that are the best off already (because the parents can afford the time to be the squeaky wheel, instead of working two jobs).

The American Dream is only partly true, and it isn't available to everyone. It just isn't. Race-based hiring practices are rampant in this country. College entrance rates are so high that having a degree from an affordable community college isn't likely to help get jobs. Etc.

We are a class-based society, even though we claim we aren't. Its possible to switch classes, but the heartwarming "Rags to Riches" stories were here about are the exception to the rule. And economically speaking, even if everyone tried that hard, still only a portion would succeed in changing their socioeconomic class.

The bright side, however, is that its been found that the greatest predictor for a child's future education level isn't the education level of their parents, but the education level of the child's adult peer group, IE, teachers, pastors, coaches, uncles, Big Brothers, etc. You can grow up in a 'bad' household, but have great adult peers, and you'll be more likely to succeed than someone who grows up in a 'good' household, but has adult peers with low education. This is a confusing discovery, but it lends credence to the people who've been fighting for a long time to create community organizations in areas with low socioeconomic status that let the kids become exposed to good role models. You can escape your family, but only if you have good people leading the way. Of course, those good people are few and far between...

peace,
sam

[revzack]

Sam,

Not every wants to succeed, that is the deal, some to lazy, some dont care, some just like to squeek by. That is why it works all works out. There is always an excuse, hell i have a bunch myself, however, excuses aside, you can complain that it is not fair or simply go out and do something for yourself. Timmy, at the ripe old age of 16 sounds like he has given up before he has even started. If you want something hard enough you have to go out and get it. Starting in the mail room is not a joke, people rise to the top if they really try. And really in life you do not need to know anything, you just have to meet the right person along the way. The saying, "It is not what you know, It is who you know," couldnt be more truthful. I will probably hear welll if you poor you wont meet the right people, that is wrong, you just have to find a way to put yourself in the right place. Some of the smartest people i know, waist it, smoking dope solving all the worlds problems, perfectly capable of working but choose not to, but then again they dont sponge so it is all good. I guess people make choices.


Best

Zack